San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-27
One of the Needs of Honor.

| and effectively; 1t is easily taken, and perfect
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| One of the Needs of Honor.
For the LIGHT.
The love of true glory, or
of the fame that arises from
| genius and patriotism, nohly
employed in the public good, should be
carefully nourished in the minds of
Young men. This aspiration SCORES q
mere fleetiDg nOtOTiety, won by the sac
rstice of principle and manliness, or by
trucking and bordering to passion and
prejudice. This love of true glory is to
men what the compass is to the sailor In
the midst of storm and darkness, ont on
the trackless ocean. have always been
deeply impressed with the profound
wisdom that led the Romans to erect the
status of their distinguished ancestors
In their houses, where their descendants
could view them daily. These statues
were spurs to the descendants OF the
men whom they symbolized-they were
guardian spirits TO preserve from ig-
noble ActiOns-they were full OF mute
eloquence, that could not be disregard
ed without an admission of disgraOeful
degeneracy of spirit. The love of true
glory-of the only sort of fame that is
desirable, ia the beat incentive to patri
otto efforts and noble undertakings, as
well rs the best safeguard against sOT-
did ambition and vulgar aims.
There lie no denying the fact, that the
tendency now Is 10 regard success as the
proof of merit and as passport to re-
spect and that this feeling inclines men
to attach but small Importance to the
means used to attain success. SO that
man gets there with both feet
grasps fortune or an office, we are not
very particular in scrutiniZing the means
used by him. This tendency needs to be
cOunteracted. Ii is debasing and cor
rupting for the reason that 1t etfaces the
boundary between right and wrong. II
success cOnseCrates fraud, gilds knayeTy
and entenuates falsehOod, it requires
nothing more to show that public Opin-
ion has become debSsed and corrupt to
a deplOrable extent and has pretty well
lost sight OF the distinction between
right and wrong. | am sure | don't
overestimate the value Of public opinion
as the thermometer OF the morality and
integrity of a people. Where public
opinion approves of murder. juries will
feel no shame in disregardiHg their
oaths in order to acQuit murderers.
Where wealth is held to sanotify fraud,
men will resort to any and all means to
acquire wealth. Where female chastity
is held in small estimation, unchastity
Is likely to abound. Whatever public
opinion approves or CondOnes, there is
| really no difference. men and women
will practice. Some Greek sage said
none but fools and knaves despised pub
lie opinion, and he hit the nail squsrely
on the head; but where public opinion
makes success the sole test of worth and
genius, and pardOns any disreputsble
and Infamous means that may have been
used to attain such success, Ii offers q
strong incentive to fraud ana rasoality
| by Offering to them free and uncondi-
| tional pardon In advance.
But there is no morality in politics
and trade, exClaims one, and it is down
| right quiXOtism TO attempt to introduce
| them. Whence is derived the authority
for such an immoral doctrine? Not from
the Bible; not from the teachings of an
cient philosophy, as it was taught in the
schools at Athens. Dishonesty, deceit
and fraud are not permissible In any
calling or profession, and yet to
trade and politics, is tanta-
mount to q declaration, that men
are at liberty to practice dishonesty, de-
ceit and fraud. in trade and in politics.
| That lie precisely what 1t means. If men
are not bound by the laws of morality in
trade and politics, upon what ground
| are they held to be bound by those laws
In other kinds of business? If a merchant
may use false measures and weights and
lie about the quality OF his goods, why
may not farmer do so? Or why may
not the mechanic and the manufacturer
also cheat and defraud. The spirit of
the times against which | am now con-
tending,is exhibited In its full dress, and
naked defOrmity, in Oleomargarine and
the many other food authorizations that
| greed OF money pushes men into prac-
ticing, and the free use Of money by poll
ticians in carrying out their purposes.
1t seems to be impossible for poor man
to be elected to the senate of the United
States from California, Nevada and some
other states, because money has to be
| poured out like water to secure an cleo
ton. This condition of things, if left
unchecked, will ultimately permeate
every rank OF society and debase every
sort Of business and calling.
The best antidote for this poison Is
the implantatiOn of a love Of true glory
or fame, in the minds of young men.
This means, that they will recoil with
scorn and losthiDg, from sordid aims
and unmanly arts, and consider success
that's purchased by base means, as IN
famous and degrading. The young men
oftoday will be the rulers of the tomor-
row, and upon the pilotage will depend
the future course Of the nation over q
sea like to be temptestuous. The school
room and the public press by CO.
operating together may raise the stand
Al d Of ambition above sOrdidness, but the
home nest the family fireside, is the
place for moral culture. ToNEY.
Not 50 Serious.
Enc uirles at the general office of the